• Tools:
• Save |
• Print |
• E-mail |
• Most Popular |

Painkiller linked to New York deaths

Adjust font size:

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Seventeen people have died in New York City in the past three months after overdosing on illegal drugs laced with the prescription painkiller fentanyl, authorities said Tuesday.

The drugs, typically heroin or cocaine, are laced with the very potent fentanyl, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported. Doctors usually prescribe fentanyl for severe chronic pain, but it can also be manufactured in makeshift drug labs to be mixed with narcotics.

"In most of these instances, the fentanyl was manufactured illicitly, outside of legitimate pharmaceutical laboratories," New York Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said in a written statement.

Police officers have been instructed to take special precautions, including wearing rubber gloves because fentanyl-laced drugs can be absorbed through the skin.

More toxicology tests may determine that other overdose deaths in recent months are fentanyl-related, a representative from the health department said Wednesday.

Fentanyl is 50 to 80 times more powerful than morphine and is extremely lethal when combined with other drugs, the health department said.

More than 500 fentanyl-related deaths have been reported nationwide, according to the health department.

CNN's Lia Araujo contributed to this report.

SPCA: Pa. home had 500 animals' remains Investigators recovered the remains of more than 500 animals after executing a search warrant Wednesday at a home in the Feltonville section of Philadelphia ...

---

• Remains of 500 animals said found at home
• From Captain Picard to Sir Patrick
• Federal air marshals back in spotlight
• Somali tried to take bomb materials on jet
• Source: 8 killed at Afghan base believed CIA

• Limbaugh hospitalized for chest pains
• 13 killed in Afghanistan suicide attack
• Iran parliament: Arrest protest leaders
• New $3.8B bailout for GMAC
• Somali tries to board with chemicals

• Talkin' 'Icky Thump' blues (1:40)
• 'Why you treat yourself bad?' (3:15)
• Soviet culture returns (3:47)
• Unseemly rap lyrics targeted (3:29)
• Now In The News